Whitefish Winter Carnival festivities take on Oz theme
Whitefish Winter Carnival LXVI theme is "there's snow place like home." (Photo provided)
Hear ye, hear ye, penguins and yetis, and wizards and little dogs, too, for the 66th annual Whitefish Winter Carnival dawns.
The month-long celebration kicks off Saturday with a “Wizard of Oz” theme that tells all, “There’s snow place like home.”
Festivities begin with the crowning of the 2025 Prime Minister and Duchess of Lark at the raucous, already-sold-out Merrymaker event Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Moose Lodge.
The Coronation of King Ullr LXVI and Queen of the Snows is Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the O'Shaughnessy Center. Come to this family friend event to get a Viking diva kiss to protect from the yetis.
After the coronation, take the 21+ celebration to the one and only Whitefish Disco Party Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. at the Great Northern Bar. It is a $15 cover, and the price includes a Carnival button.
Prince Frey and Princess Freya will be crowned at Whitefish High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23 just before the varsity boys basketball game.
On Sunday, Jan. 26, the Slopeside Selfie Scavenger Hunt organized by Sotheby’s will take place at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Those looking to kick off the big weekend with merriment and frivolity can attend the Carnival Gala held at the Whitefish Lake Restaurant on Friday, Feb. 7. There will be no-host cocktails and a silent auction at 6 p.m. with a program and dinner at 7 p.m. The Gala is 21+ and supports the carnival with $100 tickets sold online beginning Jan. 20 at 10 a.m.
A new beer curling event will make its debut, weather permitting, at the Great Northern Bar. Qualifying rounds will be on Friday, Feb. 7 from 2 – 6 p.m. and championship rounds will be on Feb. 8 from 12 to 3 p.m. Teams of four can register for $100 with cash prizes given to the top three teams.
The Penguin Plunge takes place on Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. at City Beach. Icy dips will go toward supporting Special Olympics Montana.
The pie social on Feb. 8 will offer a sweet chance to replenish with homemade pie and coffee for sale from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Charles Parish at 230 Baker Ave.
The highly anticipated Whitefish Winter Carnival Grand Parade will roll through downtown on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. The post-parade social will take place immediately after the parade at the Firebrand Hotel.
The festivities come to a close with a Sunday pancake breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club at the Moose Lodge on Feb. 9 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.